Vendor Program Options

[mx315]

Here are the options a supplier gave me for starting next year's program. Looking for input anyone can offer for the best startup program. I need the best bang for my $ and get the best results. We are only treating our monthly maintenance accounts and plan on getting a Z-Max for applications.


FEBRUARY/MARCH
EVADE .375% 0-0-7 (BARRICADE)
PENDIMETHALIN .86% 0-0-7
DIMENSION .22% 5-0-20
PENDIMETHALIN .86% 19-0-5 30%XCU
EVADE .375% 24-0-11 30%XCU
PIN-DEE 3.3 EC 2.5 GALLON
PRODIAMINE 65WDG 5LB
SPECTICLE FLO 1 GALLON

APRIL/MAY
24-0-5 40%XCU 2%FE
24-0-11 50%XCU 6%FE
18-0-18 50%XCU 2%FE 2%MG
TALSTAR .073% 18-0-6 40%XCU
PIN-DEE 3.3 EC 2.5 GALLON
PRODIAMINE 65WDG 5LB
SPECTICLE FLO 1 GALLON

MAY/JUNE (INSECTICIDE)
TOPCHOICE ( MOLE CRICKETS)
ALLECTUS .225% 0-07 (CHINCH BUGS)
TALSTAR 0.073% 0-0-7
TALSTAR 1 GALLON (AS NEEDED)

JUNE/JULY
24-0-5 40%XCU 2%FE
24-0-11 50%XCU 6%FE
18-0-18 50%XCU 2%FE 2%MG
TALSTAR .073% 18-0-6 40%XCU
TALSTAR 1 GALLON (AS NEEDED)

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
24-0-5 40%XCU 2%FE
24-0-11 50%XCU 6%FE
5-0-20
9-0-19 AS 50%XCU 4%FE 2%MN 2%MG

OCTOBER
EVADE .375% 15-0-15 50% XCU(BARRICADE)
18-24-12 25%XCU STARTER FERTILIZER
SIMAZINE 4L 2.5 GALLON
SPECTICLE FLO 1 GALLON

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
EVADE .375% 0-0-7 (BARRICADE)
FERTILIZER (QUICK RELEASE 3/4 N PER 1,000)
SOIL AMMENDMENTS IF NEEDED (LIME, SULFER, GYPSUM)

[greendoctor]

That's a lot of "cides" especially preemergent herbicides. By growing the grass thickly and steadily through regular feedings, much of that is not needed. I use Gallery DF, medium rates of Dimension 40WSP and low rates of Specticle when needed. I used to use simazine as a soil active post emergent on certain weeds. Too many preemergent herbicides can backfire by pruning the turf roots and thinning out the lawn.

[ArTurf]

Originally Posted by greendoctor

That's a lot of "cides" especially preemergent herbicides. By growing the grass thickly and steadily through regular feedings, much of that is not needed. I use Gallery DF, medium rates of Dimension 40WSP and low rates of Specticle when needed. I used to use simazine as a soil active post emergent on certain weeds. Too many preemergent herbicides can backfire by pruning the turf roots and thinning out the lawn.

Per your's and others suggestion I quit using the usual pre's. It does seem I will have to go back to using some pre on certain bermuda lawns to fight the crab. I will begin using Gallery on higher end lawns with broadleaf pressure.

Did you quit using Simazine because you felt it prunes the roots? I didn't think it was that much of a root pruner?

[Duekster]

Warm Season Grass -- I often use a split app of DIMENSION.

I use 1/2 of the recomended annual rate for previously treated yards in the fall. Then two 1/3 Apps in late winter (FEB~March) and 1/3 again in May. This keeps me below the max annual rate in in the middle range too.

I find that in the second season that I can spot treat weeds.
If I fertilize well in the Fall, I often can just do organics and mircos including iron in the early spring. Fertilize lightly in late spring and early summer. Higher feedings in Sept and October.

[greendoctor]

Originally Posted by ArTurf

Per your's and others suggestion I quit using the usual pre's. It does seem I will have to go back to using some pre on certain bermuda lawns to fight the crab. I will begin using Gallery on higher end lawns with broadleaf pressure.

Did you quit using Simazine because you felt it prunes the roots? I didn't think it was that much of a root pruner?

I stopped because the DOA put that on their special restriction list. Otherwise, I had been using either that or atrazine as the main soil active herbicides for almost 20 years. A bad experience with Surflan taught me about using orange herbicides on warm season turf. Simazine or atrazine does not cause nearly the damage that an orange herbicide does. What else can safely be used over a newly plugged or sprigged St Augustine lawn.

[mx315]

I will take any advice I can get. Do the split Pre-M apps and more freqent fertilizer apps usually give a better result. We are going to be fighting a weed problem left by our last chemical guys. Most of our commercial propeties are Bermuda and most of the residentials are St. Augustine. I only have a couple of Centipede properties. We are taking soil samples at all the properties next week and will start from there. I was advised of using a long lasting Pre-M, granular fertilizer, fungicide and post apps when needed.

[mx315]

Here's what I'm having to deal with on my properties after the last chemical company.

[mx315]

Another property. Anyone care to point me in the direction of how you would takle these weed infested properties. Go after them with Pre's in the early Spring or try to take them out with Fall Post?

[greendoctor]

Postemerge now to kill what is going to be adding to the seed bank. Your preemerge has to start now and be pretty intensive for the first 365 days. What kind of weeds am I looking at in the pictures?

[ArTurf]

Originally Posted by mx315

Another property. Anyone care to point me in the direction of how you would takle these weed infested properties. Go after them with Pre's in the early Spring or try to take them out with Fall Post?

The drain in the 2nd pic makes me think this is an area that is prone to excessive moisture and the weeds that go along with it. Although it may not be possible try to correct this. If it is not correctable let the customer know this area will be difficult to control weeds that inhabit wet areas.